this is bbc news. the us restates its support for israel, insisting a two—state solution is necessary. we hear... to two-state solution is necessary. we hear... ., , so, we will continue to stand up for israel's bedrock right to defend itself, and we will also continue to urge the protection of civilians during conflict and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into gaza. we hear from we hearfrom a family we hear from a family that hosted the british teenager found we hear from a family that hosted the british teenagerfound in france after six years, alex batty. in a former conservative peer stands to benefit from tens of millions of pounds of personal protective equipment sold to the government during the pandemic. sport and let's go live to bbc sport centre and join catherine.

good evening. we've had the draw for the champions league last 16. the first knockout round. at this stage, teams from the same country or who came through the same group are kept apart. the holders manchester city look to have been given an easy path to the quarters, they will face the lowest ranked team left in the competition — the danish side fc copenhagen. these are the other ties as they were drawn at uefa headquarters in nyon. premier league leaders arsenal face porto while italian champions napoli face barcelona. german giants bayern munich also face italian opposition in lazio. the current serie a leaders inter milan play atletico madrid while there is a daunting task for rb leipzig against the iii—time champions real madrid. those ties will be played over two legs in february and march, here is the reaction of manchester city director .) to facing here is the reaction to face copenhagen. of course we remember the two games

we played, and they went well, at least at etihad. but it's not worth the talk too much to happen will two years ago. they've been better than manchester united and felt two teams with more experience with them, so to be careful. we've also had the draw for the europa league play—off round. all of the premier league clubs have managed to bypass this round and go straight into the last 16. this extra stage pits the teams who finished second in their europa league groups against the teams who came third in the champions league group phase. here are the fixtures. jose mourinho's roma will play feyenoord. ac milan, who missed out on the champions league knockouts, they'll face the french side rennes. benfica will play toulouse, who came through as runners—up in liverpool's group, and the ukrainian champions shakhtar donetsk play marseille, who missed out on top spot in the europa league with defeat to brighton on thursday.

manchester city meanwhile have been fined for failing to control their players after they lost their temper in their 3—3 draw with tottenham. some of the players surrounded referee simon hooper after he blew for an earlier foul while jack grealish was through on goal. the club admitted they failed to ensure their players did not behave in an improper way during the 94th minute and have been fined £120,000. liverpool face west ham in the league cup quarterfinals quarterfinals on wednesday. last season's runners—up in the competition newcastle united are at chelsea tomorrow night. eddie howe's side had a morale—boosting win over the weekend, 3—0 against fulham after three defeats in a row. they did pick up a couple more injuries tojoelinton and fabien schar and though they are doubts for tomorrow night, sven botman should be available

after coming off the bench over the weekend — his first appearance in three months his first appearance in three months. he's done a lot of work. he's rehabbed _ he's done a lot of work. he's rehabbed really well. we'll have to make _ rehabbed really well. we'll have to make a _ rehabbed really well. we'll have to make a decision on whether we want to start _ make a decision on whether we want to start him — make a decision on whether we want to start him in this game. i think he's_ to start him in this game. i think he's got — to start him in this game. i think he's gota— to start him in this game. i think he's got a load behind him. they're really— he's got a load behind him. they're really impressed with how he attacked that. that was a great thing _ attacked that. that was a great thing from the day, really. the first of the club world cup semi—finals gets under way in the next half an hour injeddah. braziliann fluminense take on the egyptian side al—ahley. fluminense boast the experienced marcelo in their ranks, while al ahly beat karim benzema's saudi side al ittihad to reach this stage. the winner will play either manchester city orjapan�*s urrawa red diamonds in friday's final. those two meet tomorrow. and that is all the sport for nine. —— for now. gavin will be back at 6.30. thanks, catherine. in an interview

with the bbc, michelle mone admitted lying about her links to a ppe company run by her husband and confirmed she and her family stand to benefit from £60 million of profit. the couple apologised for denying their role. but labour leader sir keir starmer said bearman is mone should not be a member of the house of lords. —— baroness mone. i'm joined by vicki youngin baroness mone. i'm joined by vicki young in westminster.— young in westminster. there are vafious young in westminster. there are various threads _ young in westminster. there are various threads to _ young in westminster. there are various threads to all _ young in westminster. there are various threads to all of - young in westminster. there are various threads to all of this, - young in westminster. there are various threads to all of this, butj various threads to all of this, but it does centre around the ppe contracts that were handed out during the covid pandemic. at the time, baroness mone was a conservative peer. she has since stood down from the house of lords temporarily. a contract to be given to the pump dominant company ppe med

pro. as you say, she finally admitted that she would benefit from that contract, something that she had previous denied, and she said she lied in order to protect her family. alongside all of that, there is a national crime agency investigation into alleged fraud in the department of health is also taking legal action. it says the ppe gowns that the company provided didn't meet �*s pacification. rishi sunak was asked all about this today —— about all this. the sunak was asked all about this today -- about all this.— -- about all this. the government takes this very _ -- about all this. the government takes this very seriously _ -- about all this. the government takes this very seriously which - -- about all this. the government takes this very seriously which is l takes this very seriously which is why they— takes this very seriously which is why they are taking legal action. that's_ why they are taking legal action. that's how seriously i take it and the government takes it. it is also subject— the government takes it. it is also subject to — the government takes it. it is also subject to an ongoing criminal

investigations of white- subject to an ongoing criminal investigations of white having not said much up _ investigations of white having not said much up for— investigations of white having not said much up for any _ investigations of white having not said much up for any of— investigations of white having not said much up for any of this, - said much up for any of this, baroness mont has tweeted in response —— mone. that wasn't something that the prime minister there address, saying because the investigations, there wasn't much more he would say. in response to her, a former health minister has come back, and he's deputed —— disputing the fact and saying none of it was in her register of interest in the house of lords and she wasn't honest about her financial interests. sir keir starmer has also been talking about this. i starmer has also been talking about this. ., �* ~' , starmer has also been talking about this. ., �* ~ , , ., , this. i don't think she should be in the lords- — this. i don't think she should be in the lords- i _ this. i don't think she should be in the lords. i think— this. i don't think she should be in the lords. i think the _ this. i don't think she should be in the lords. i think the government| the lords. i think the government should _ the lords. i think the government should he — the lords. i think the government should be held _ the lords. i think the government should be held to— the lords. i think the government should be held to account. - the lords. i think the government should be held to account. mr- the lords. i think the government should be held to account. mr of. the lords. i think the government. should be held to account. mr of the conversations — should be held to account. mr of the conversations with _ should be held to account. mr of the conversations with her— should be held to account. mr of the conversations with her in _ should be held to account. mr of the conversations with her in the first. conversations with her in the first place? _ conversations with her in the first place? is— conversations with her in the first place? is a — conversations with her in the first place? is a question _ conversations with her in the first place? is a question the - conversations with her in the first. place? is a question the government needs— place? is a question the government needs to _ place? is a question the government needs to answen _ place? is a question the government needs to answer. but _ place? is a question the government needs to answer. but i— place? is a question the government needs to answer. but i do _ place? is a question the government needs to answer. but i do think - place? is a question the government| needs to answer. but i do think many people _

needs to answer. but i do think many people would — needs to answer. but i do think many people would say— needs to answer. but i do think many people would say in— needs to answer. but i do think many people would say in addition - needs to answer. but i do think many people would say in addition to - needs to answer. but i do think many people would say in addition to this . people would say in addition to this case: _ people would say in addition to this case, there — people would say in addition to this case, there are _ people would say in addition to this case, there are £7— people would say in addition to this case, there are £7 million- people would say in addition to this case, there are £7 million worth . people would say in addition to this case, there are £7 million worth of| case, there are £7 million worth of fraud _ case, there are £7 million worth of fraud and — case, there are £7 million worth of fraud and covid. _ case, there are £7 million worth of fraud and covid. that's— case, there are £7 million worth of fraud and covid. that's completelyj fraud and covid. that's completely unacceptable — fraud and covid. that's completely unacceptable when _ fraud and covid. that's completely unacceptable when everybody - fraud and covid. that's completely - unacceptable when everybody watching this knows _ unacceptable when everybody watching this knows their _ unacceptable when everybody watching this knows their public _ unacceptable when everybody watching this knows their public services - this knows their public services have _ this knows their public services have been— this knows their public services have been run— this knows their public services have been run down— this knows their public services have been run down to - this knows their public services have been run down to the - this knows their public services - have been run down to the ground. baroness _ have been run down to the ground. baroness mone _ have been run down to the ground. baroness mone has _ have been run down to the ground. baroness mone has withdrawn - have been run down to the ground. | baroness mone has withdrawn from have been run down to the ground. - baroness mone has withdrawn from the house of lords. the investigations do continue, but the couple deny that they've done anything wrong. thanks very much, vicki young. the government announced that british citizens must that's a jump of more than 20,000 from the existing threshold. kim hangs groups criticised the move, saying couples can be punished for falling in love. the government could face legal actions. we can go live to caroline coombs.

it's a not—for—profit organisation that supports families affected by the uk spouse visa rules. am i right in saying is your organisation driving this legal action? yes, it is. we represent _ driving this legal action? yes, it is. we represent thousands - driving this legal action? yes, it is. we represent thousands of l is. we represent thousands of families caught in a position nobody thought they would ever be put in. the shock announcement on the 4th of december has thrown so many people into absolute chaos, panic, worry, anxiety, and there are no details. there's an announcement, but no details. families that are here are suddenly thrown into fear about what that means for them. there's been a little bit of what feels like

rollback on that with statements, but there's nothing concrete as yet in terms of confirmation in written form. we can't guarantee that they are all going to be ok, myself included. we're due for next year indefinitely, so it is very personal as well. but then you've got families who are just close to meeting that threshold after a lot of hard work, a lot of stress to get the 18,600, and suddenly the possibility is now looking away from them. the families who don't even meet that don't even beat the current threshold. we've got a lot of very concerned families at the moment and couples.— of very concerned families at the moment and couples. we've spoke to another concerned _ moment and couples. we've spoke to another concerned family _ moment and couples. we've spoke to another concerned family earlier, - moment and couples. we've spoke to another concerned family earlier, a i another concerned family earlier, a woman who's married to a builder who doesn't earn that threshold, and she's very concerned that they too will be separated. they have a young child. what exactly are you trying

to challenge in a legal perspective? at the moment, we are trying to find out the details of these changes. we don't know what it will mean for those saving for example. it won't be applied retrospectively until we see that in black and white. we are not assuming anything at all. we don't know what defendants means. there are a lot of unidentified areas of the moment and there's a lot of people, cohorts of people who are currently disproportionately affected. you've got women, who are forced into single parenting, iugghng forced into single parenting, juggling jobs and childcare. they are already affected. you've got young couples who are at the start of their career and looking down

this thinking how on earth are they going to achieve that. you've got people who are at retirement age who simply wouldn't be able to meet that. and then you've got people who for whatever reason will not be able to take on full—time work, be it health reasons — for example. there's discrimination here. caroline coombs, the co—founder and ceo of reunite families. thank you so much for outlining. we did ask the home office for a statement and they said the prime minister has made clear current levels of migration are far too high. that's why the government announced this plan to decisively cut net migration and create a system which for the british people. must be able to financially support them. the

minimum income requirement ensures that families are self—sufficient instead of relying on public funds with the ability to integrate if they are to play a full part in british life. let's go to northern ireland. the bbc understands the dup has ruled out the prospect of a deal to restore devolved power at stormont before christmas. northern ireland's been without a devolved government for almost two years, after the dup withdrew support following brexit. westminster wanted the devolved assembly to be recalled this week so ministers could be appointed — but it's understood the dup�*s position is that the negotiating process is not yet complete. here's our ireland correspondent, chris page. this is a time of year when people tend to think of christmas parties rather than political parties. but in northern ireland, the festive season has often brought frantic negotiations. the 25th of december can be seen as an unofficial deadline. the westminster government had hoped

that the devolved power—sharing assembly at stormont would be recalled this week to appoint ministers. there had been signs that a deal to bring back devolution was moving closer. but it's understood the democratic unionist party has now ruled out returning to stormont before christmas. the dup has said it's not being led by calendar dates. other parties say patience has run out. well, obviously, it's the dup that we're all waiting for to make a decision. but in northern ireland politics, we're well used to those deadline points. and have been instances in the past where, at the very last minute, when it looked like the light was going out, the light came on. and i would urge my dup colleagues to actually put people first. what we've had instead is raising waiting lists and the health service, we've had public sector workers out on strike because they haven't been paid properly and all because we don't have a government. so there really is no reason to wait any longer. the people are bored of all of this

and they're quite angry that politicians who are being paid to go to work, aren't going to work. people working in the public sector in northern ireland say their pay has fallen behind england, scotland and wales. a series of strikes is continuing, the most recent by transport workers at the weekend. we have seen teachers out. we have seen nurses out and now we're seeing transport workers out. there's a serious crisis in the public finances in northern ireland. the trade union movement is on record as saying of course it would be better to have local institutions in place for all those things like local democracy, accountability. there are so many important issues going on that we need to deal with, and i feel everything is being swept by the wayside.'s been swept by the wayside. whether stormont does return depends on whether the dup lifts its veto on power—sharing. the party's been pushing

for the trade border with great britain to be eased. it says brexit arrangements have damaged northern ireland's place in the uk. the dup is being told not to budge by more hard—line unionists. the negotiations today will focus on financial support for a new devolved government. but the politicians who are here still don't know if they'll get to spend the money. let's go live now to charlotte gallagher. it doesn't look like there's going to be a deal before christmas, but when is there likely to be any sort of agreement in the aftermath? that likely to be any sort of agreement in the aftermath?— likely to be any sort of agreement in the aftermath? at this stage, we 'ust don't in the aftermath? at this stage, we just don't know. _ in the aftermath? at this stage, we just don't know. realistically, - just don't know. realistically, there is no chance before christmas to party again. it's now been 22 months since northern ireland has

had a devolved government. there were talks here today at hillsborough castle they've now finished. the dup said they look forward to further talks. when asked they would be a deal before christmas, they refused to answer. it look really unlikely because the uk parliament breaks up for christmas tomorrow. chris heaton—harris is meeting the parties tomorrow morning, but it's very unlikely that there will be a deal struck over those few hours. the process goes on. for people in northern ireland, it's incredibly frustrating because public services like education and healthcare decisions that need to be made by politicians are not being made because they're not doing theirjob. civil servants can't make those big decisions. the uk government offered a financial carrot in a way to get politicians back to stormont. the dup's politicians back to stormont. the dup�*s real stiff sticking point is

the traitor arrangements. —— trade arrangements. this means they're treated to the rest of the uk, the place in the union is being put at stake and they're very unhappy about it. forthem stake and they're very unhappy about it. for them to go back into power—sharing, they would probably have to be some changes to that, but we don't know how much of a compromise they're willing to make. charlotte gallagher, thank you very much. the comedian and former bbc radio 2 presenter russell brand has been questioned for a second time by detectives investigating sex offences, which allegedly took place between 2006 and 2013. the 48—year—old was interviewed under caution last week about six allegations. police spoke to him about a further three claims last month. the entertainer has strongly denied the accusations.

the owners of a french farmhouse where the british teenager alex batty stayed during his years missing abroad have commented for the first time on his time there. alex, together with his mother and grandfather, left home in 0ldham for a holiday in spain in 2017, but then disappeared. alex, now 17, returned to the uk last night after walking alone for days in the french pyrenees to find help. the french authorities said he'd apparently spent the past two years at a gite, as part of nomadic lifestyle that had also seen the family travel from spain to morocco. today, posting on social media, the owners of the french property, frederic hambye and ingrid beauve, said alex — whom they knew as "zach" — stayed with them at the gite, i spoke to frederic hambye, who explained how he ended up staying at his property. it's quite simple.

peter was a grandfather and zach is alex and they were in the gite is alex, and they were in the gite peter was a grandfather and zach is alex, and they were in the gite, sometimes staying with us for longer, longer periods, sometimes going where zach's mother was in age, income, campsite, or looking for a community life. and well, it ended up we were on holidays ten days ago and he told us that he wanted to really to find a solution it's quite simple. and then he left. and we discover in the press a couple of days after that he was not alex — that he was that he was not zach,

sorry, that he was alex. and yeah, that that was a surprise from ingrid. my wife and i, we were really completely, completely under under completely, completely under the surprise of discovering that we've lived with somebody underfalse identity for so much time. did you get any indication or any conversations with him about his grandmother, who he'd initially been with? i personally did not that. but something it did not mention, he told us that he still had a family in the uk, but that was it. and frankly speaking, he was very free. we had a very, very almost family relationship with him. but we don't go too much into intimate details and family details. peter and zach, then david and alex were people. they wanted to have a discreet life and being of service. they are very nice and intelligent people. but you never know. did he seem happy when he was

staying at the gite? what did he do there and how did he participate in life there? it wasjust, you know, a typical work away in a bed and breakfast. we welcome people that need food, wnd usually it's for a period of a couple of weeks. they come and they help for the gardening, they help for washing the dishes, they help for welcoming the guests. but in that case, as he was not speaking french to us, it was difficult. and it was, you know, it was making himself available when it was needed, painting a wall or doing helping his grandfather always been at the gite with his grandfather, has never been there alone. that's also why we were ok with that grandfather and son and and grandson. and we say, ok, he's got a parent.

apparently, there is not a problem. and just briefly, if you could just tell us the last time you saw him and did you get any indication from him in that conversation that he might want to return to the uk? yes, of course. as i mentioned, the last time we saw him, it was approximately... i think it was the fourth or something. and he told us that he's going tojoin his mother in order to go back to the uk or to find a solution to his id. we already proposed him several times to go to the british consulate in montpellier in order to get a proper hiding, to get a proper id, because we realised a couple of weeks ago that he didn't had an id. why? because we really wanted him to be educated to be educated and he's very gifted in computer science. he's a very smart guy. and he said it told me, "ok, it's very difficult for me to go

"to secondary school because i'm i'm 17, i'm always eight, i'm almost 18. but when we went, we took him, ingrid my wife, we took him to the university. we had an interview with the manager. it was in english. it was perfect for him. he didn't have to to have much command of french. and when my wife and him exited from the from the school, he said, "ok, it's perfect. "i always pass all the tests to be admitted in the school, "but i don't have any id." ok, let's go to the british the british consulate. and he told us, "yeah, my parents prefer that i'm wait am 18 that i'm

on my own to study. "it's a bit early to start university, blah, blah." that's it. before we go — there's just time for one more story. a dress worn by diana, princess of wales, has sold for more than £900,000 at an auction in los angeles. it's the highest price paid for any of her dresses. the evening gown in black velvet features metallic embroidered stars and a blue ballerina skirt. it was worn on a visit to italy in 1985. it's on that story that i leave you. lewis is up next with the daily global. the six o'clock news is up next. there is plenty more on the bbc news website. you can of course stay with us here.

good evening. monday was a pretty cloudy day for many, with some splashes of rain, but northern areas of the uk did get to see a little bit of brightness. that was the scene for a weather watcher in the highlands earlier on. now, as we look through the rest of this week, we will see further rain at times and it will become very windy. there is the chance that some of us will see a little bit of snow in the run—up to the christmas period. now, this is the earliest satellite picture. you can see this pipeline of cloud streaming in from the atlantic. this is our next weathersystem, really. that will bring some quite heavy rain across parts of wales and england as we head through this evening through this evening and tonight. turning really wet, particularly through the second half of the night. northern england staying a little bit drier and certainly for northern ireland and scotland will see some clear skies, a few showers blowing into the north west of scotland, some of those wintry over higher ground.

cold enough here for frost and some ice, mild further south where we start tuesday with clouds and outbreaks of heavy rain. that rain will trundle its way south eastwards through the day, so brighter skies will follow. a scattering of showers blowing in, particularly across the western side of scotland and into northern ireland. some of those showers wintry over high ground in scotland. it will be windy here. temperatures a little bit lower than they have been today — 5 degrees in lerwick and 10 degrees in london by the middle part of the afternoon. but into wednesday, we see another frontal system pushing in from the atlantic. this one is a warm front, and so it will reintroduce some milder conditions. but with extensive cloud cover, it will be quite misty and murky in places, i suspect. bits and pieces of rain, it will be windy, but temperatures in many spots back up into double digits. and then we look ahead to thursday with a deep area of low pressure passing to the north of the uk. lots of isobars on this chart. it is going to be a very windy day indeed. and behind this cold front, we'll see some colder air returning — real seesaw conditions this week in terms of the feel of the weather. in the cold air,

i think we'll see some snow showers across parts of scotland, even to relatively low levels in the north where, gales will combine with those snow showers to give blizzard conditions. further south, it stays mild. further south, it stays mild, and so what falls from the sky will be rain, but it is going to be a windy day wherever you are. and then, looking towards christmas itself, stays pretty unsettled. there will be rain at times and it may be cold enough, particularly in the north of the uk, for some snow here and there. bye— bye.

today at six: westminster reacts

after michelle mone admits she lied over her involvement with ppe contracts during covid. the prime minsiter says he takes the issue very seriously. the labour leader says she shouldn't be in the house of lords. the oil giant bp suspends shipping through the red sea after attacks on vessels by rebels in yemen sparked by the war in gaza. hundreds of thousands of menopausal women could see an end to hot flushes and night sweats after a new drug is approved. it's just a revelation, as far as i was concerned, for me and the future of women with the menopause. and a kiss for this wallaby after it's rescued from record floods in northern australia. and coming up on bbc news. the champions league draw is made — with premier league leaders arsenal taking on porto, in the last 16. champions manchester city face copenhagen. arsenal fc, the finalists 2006/07, so you can go ahead,